December 3: O Holy Night | David Archuleta

Such a classic Christmas song, right? I honestly didn’t care for O Holy Night until I heard this version. The height in his voice is amazing! This is one of those songs that is worth following the lyrics as you listen.

For me, the text that stood out most is “chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother.” I remember a pretty vivid Gospel lesson from a teacher in college who described the shackles and chains with which we bind ourselves because of sin. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Court him, and you will soon have shackles, not on your wrists, but on your soul” (source). I find it interesting that the “Slave” is the one that will break the chains and shackles off of our wrists. I still remember my teacher holding out his hand and mimicking the shackles and chains falling off because of repentance. That was a time my “soul felt its worth!”

When was a time your “soul felt its worth?” Leave a comment below.

Note—At the very end of the song you will hear the first line of the familiar LDS Hymn “Come Follow Me.”

O Holy Night

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel voices

Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born

Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

With all our hearts we praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord, forever, ever praise we

Noel, noel, oh night when Christ was born

Noel, noel, oh night, oh night divine

Noel, noel, oh night, oh night divine

Performed by: David Archuleta & The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra's string section
Arranged by: Richard Parkinson

Want to listen to the first draft of this arrangement? Check out DA before he became famous. There are things I like about both arrangements.